Trigger automations

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How to trigger automations to run when a contact interacts with your 1:1 emails

Introduction

Triggering automations in ActiveCampaign when a contact interacts with your 1:1 emails is a powerful tool that enhances your engagement capabilities. This feature allows you to automate responses based on specific actions taken by recipients, such as opening an email, clicking a link within the email, or replying to the email. Understanding how to utilize these triggers effectively can vastly improve your communication strategies and lead nurturing processes.

With this feature, you can streamline your follow-ups and ensure that no important interactions go unnoticed. By leveraging these automations, you tailor your marketing efforts based on direct feedback from your contacts, fostering a more personalized and responsive relationship.

How to access this feature

To access the functionality of triggering automations based on contact interactions with 1:1 emails, you will need to navigate through the ActiveCampaign interface. Make sure you are logged in to your ActiveCampaign account, and then follow these steps:

1. Go to the Automations tab in the main dashboard. 2. Select the option to create a new automation or edit an existing one to add triggers related to 1:1 emails.

Step-by-step instructions

"Opens/Reads an Email" Trigger

To set up an automation that triggers when a contact opens or reads your 1:1 email, follow these steps:

1. **Select Trigger**: Choose the Opens reads an email trigger from the list. You will see an option to select 1:1 email. 2. **Select Email**: Click the Select email dropdown to either choose any 1:1 email or a specific one. Note that:

  - "Any" 1:1 email includes direct emails sent from the Contacts Overview page, a contact record, a deal record, and automated 1:1 emails.
  - Emails listed by name are automated 1:1 emails sent through the Send a 1:1 email automation action.

3. **Add Start**: After configuring the trigger, click the Add Start button.

• Please note*: This trigger activates only the first time the selected email is opened. If the contact opens the email again or if another recipient like a CC’d or BCC’d recipient opens it, the automation will not retrigger.

"Clicks a Link in an Email" Trigger

To trigger an automation when a contact clicks a link in your 1:1 email, do the following:

1. **Select Trigger**: Choose the Clicks a link in an email trigger. Ensure to select the 1:1 email option. 2. **Select Email**: Click the Select email dropdown to specify either a selected automated 1:1 email or “Any” 1:1 email. As noted earlier:

  - "Any" includes emails sent from a deal record and automated 1:1 emails.

3. **Select Link**: Now, click the Select link dropdown to choose the link option necessary for your trigger:

  - “Any” link includes all links contained in any 1:1 email.
  - Links listed by URL relate to those in automated 1:1 emails.

4. **Add Start**: Once configured, remember to click the Add Start button.

• Important*: This trigger will also activate only the first time the selected link is clicked. Similar to the email open trigger, multiple openings or clicks do not retrigger the automation.

"Replies to an Email" Trigger

To set up an action when a contact replies to your 1:1 email:

1. **Select Trigger**: Opt for the Replies to an email trigger, then select the 1:1 email option. 2. **Select Email**: Click the Select email dropdown and choose either a specific automated 1:1 email or “Any” 1:1 email as mentioned before. 3. **Add Start**: Conclude by clicking the Add Start button after you're done configuring.

Configuration options and settings

This feature includes several important configuration options. Understanding these can aid in better utilizing the mappings of your automations:

- Select email: A dropdown for choosing the specific 1:1 email to monitor for interactions. - Select link: Only applicable for link click triggers, allowing you to define which link click will activate the automation.

Make sure to always configure these settings based on the goals of your marketing campaigns.

Best practices and tips

To maximize the effectiveness of triggering automations with 1:1 email interactions, consider the following best practices:

1. **Be Specific**: When setting triggers, pinpoint specific emails and interactions rather than using “Any” options indiscriminately. This helps create tailored responses to key emails. 2. **Segment Your Audience**: Utilize segments in conjunction with these triggers to send targeted messages based on the actions of specific groups. 3. **Monitor Engagement**: Regularly review how contacts interact with your emails after implementing automations. Adjust your strategy based on engagement data. 4. **Follow Up**: Automate follow-ups based on the actions taken by contacts. For example, if a contact replies, let them receive another targeted message or a follow-up interaction.

Common use cases with examples

- **Lead Nurturing**: Trigger an automation when a lead opens an introductory email, ensuring follow-up messages are sent that guide them down the sales funnel. - **Post-Meeting Follow Up**: Use the reply trigger to send a thank-you or further information message after a contact responds to a meeting invitation. - **Content Engagement**: If a contact clicks on a link that leads to a specific content piece, trigger an automation that sends them related articles or resources.

Troubleshooting section

If you encounter issues with the trigger automations, consider the following tips:

- **Double-check Trigger Setup**: Ensure you have correctly configured your triggers, as improper setups will lead to the expected actions not occurring. - **Email Accounts**: Be aware of how the email was sent (e.g., directly or through a connected email account) as this can limit the available triggers. - **Automated Actions**: If triggers aren't firing as expected, verify that there are no conflicts with other automations that may hinder execution.

FAQ

Q1: Can I have multiple triggers for one automation? A: Yes, you can set multiple triggers within the same automation, allowing for a combination of actions (i.e., opening an email, clicking a link).

Q2: What happens if a contact interacts with the same email twice? A: The automation will only trigger once for the first interaction, regardless of how many times the contact opens or clicks the email.

Q3: Are all 1:1 emails eligible for these triggers? A: Not all 1:1 emails apply. Certain emails, such as those sent from the Contacts Overview page, have restrictions.

Q4: Can I trigger automations based on replies to all email types? A: This trigger is specific to 1:1 emails and does not apply to bulk emails or other types.

Q5: How can I test if my triggers are working? A: You can test them by sending a 1:1 email to yourself and observing whether the corresponding automation triggers as set.

Q6: Can I edit the automation after setting up the triggers? A: Yes, you can always modify your automations and adjust triggers as needed to refine your processes.

Q7: Is this feature available for all plans? A: This feature is available only for accounts that have a Plus, Professional, or Enterprise plan.

For further information on automations, visit the [ActiveCampaign Help Center](https://help.activecampaign.com). ```